Present ang ilang top GMA-7 executives sa contract renewal ni Michael V., aka Bitoy, sa GMA Network ngayong Lunes, August 18, 2025.
Ang contract signing ni Bitoy ay pagmamarka ng kanyang ika-30 taon bilang Kapuso artist.
Kasabay nito ang 30th anniversary ng pinangungunahan niyang gag show sa GMA-7, ang Bubble Gang.
Sa presscon, ipinakilala si Michael V. bilang “comedy genius.”
Kabilang sa mga dumalo sa contract signing sina Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., GMA president and chief executive officer; Felipe Yalong, executive vice-president and chief financial officer; at Cheryl Ching-Sy, officer-in-charge for Entertainment Group and vice-president for Drama.
Hindi nakadalo ang GMA Chairman na si Felipe Gozon, pero may recorded video siya ng pagbati kay Bitoy.
GOZON CALLS BITOY A "COMEDY GENIUS"
Ayon kay Gozon, ang pagkuha nila kay Michael V. para maging talent ng GMA 30 years ago ang isa sa “best decisions” ng TV network.
“I want you to know that getting you to join us in Bubble Gang in 1995 was one of the best decisions that GMA Network has ever made.
“Since then, you’ve been a loyal Kapuso and a dependable creative partner of the network.
“You have elevated GMA’s entertainment standard through every TV show and movie that you have done with us, and every character you created,” saad ng Kapuso executive.
Pinuri ni Gozon ang pagiging seryoso ni Michael V. sa kanyang komedya.
“Your meticulous and passionate approach to comedy is an inspiration to many comedians, producers, directors, and writers.”
Kinilala rin ni Gozon ang malaking kontribusyon ni Bitoy sa TV network, partikular sa comedy genre.
“Alam kong nahihiya kang tawaging comedy genius but that is what you are—a genius.
“And through your creative genius, you have made a great contribution to make GMA Network a leader in comedy.”
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GMA BOSSES CALL BITOY A "LIVING LEGEND"
Hindi nalalayo ang sinabi ni Gozon sa naging pahayag ni Gilberto Duavit Jr.
May halong biro ng presidente ng TV network, “Madalang akong magkaroon ng pagkakataong tumabi sa isang living legend.
“I can only gush because I am a Bitoy fan.”
Sa halip na comedy genius, mas akma raw tawagin bilang “creative force” si Bitoy.
Pahayag ni Duavit: “Since Bitoy’s entry [to GMA] up to today, tayo’y kinilala bilang pangunahing himpilan pagdating sa comedy sa maraming programa.
“Malaki ang bahagi niya... over the years, pabawas nang pabawas ang mga programa, subalit, gayunpaman, kung tutuusin, dalawa ang nangingibabaw na comedy sa Philippine television ngayon, and both are Bitoy programs.
“He is creative consultant of both. Yung isa creation niya, ang Pepito Manaloto.”
Ang Bubble Gang ang isa pang tinutukoy na programa ni Duavit.
Sabi naman ni Felipe Yalong, sa tatlong dekada ni Bitoy sa GMA-7, may mga pagkakataong sa salita lamang ang agreement nila.
Aniya: “Ever since, kahit walang kontrata, tuluy-tuloy na lang tayo.
"Through the years, this [is a] man [of] his word.
"Pag sinabi niyang, ‘I will stay kahit wala tayong kasunduan, kahit wala tayong pinirmahan,’ talagang ever loyal talent ng GMA si Bitoy.”
Maging ang Bubble Gang daw na nagpalipat-lipat ng araw at timeslot, patuloy na sinusubaybayan ng longtime fans.
Pagpapatuloy ni Yalong: “Napunta sa gabi na Sunday pero sinusundan pa rin, and up to now, mas maganda ang timeslot niya, mas maraming nanonood.”
Ang Bubble Gang ang itinuturing na longest-running gag show sa Pilipinas.
Pinuri rin ni Yalong ang long-running sitcom ni Michael V. na Pepito Manaloto dahil sa hindi lang daw ito comedy pero sumasalamin sa family issues.
“It’s a very relevant program that we have right now. And we can say it was a creation of Bitoy and it was you [who] can see na it will last that long.”
Sabi naman ni Cheryl Ching-Sy, “Kung merong pambansang komedyante ngayon, I have no doubt ikaw iyon.
“Here’s to more years of breaking the molds, raising the bar higher pa sa comedy, and making history together sa programs we create.”
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